A Much-needed Victory For Engineers 85-75 College Basketball

Having been involved in four straight one-point decisions - two losses and two wins - Lehigh was due for the effort that produced last night's 85-75 East Coast Conference victory over Bucknell.

The Engineers had nipped Towson State and Robert Morris, but fell to Delaware and Rider with lethargic efforts that had Coach Fran McCaffery wondering if his team ought to be send for B-12 shots.

Mind you, the output against the Bisons before nearly 1,000 in Stabler Arena wasn't perfect - the South Mountaineers shot just 27-of-42 from the line and star forward Daren Queenan embarrassingly flubbed a slam-a-jam - but McCaffery would probably rate the outing a six.

"We needed a win like this," explained the first-year head coach after his 11th win in 18 tries and fourth ECC victory. "I think that the Delaware game was a game that got away from us and, against Rider, we played about 34 minutes (out of a game total of 40).

"We needed to play with intensity for 40 minutes and, although things were not perfect, I'm pleased with the execution."

The Engineer could only manage a four-point bulge through the early going, but the South Mountaineers skipped to an eight-point rope as Queenan slammed a follow-up home and Eric Bronner buried the second of two free throws at 8:33 for a 26-18 difference.

Queenan put the gap at nine with another free throw, and Bucknell coach Charlie Woollum contributed to the cause by drawing a technical at 6:16.

Mike Androlewicz sank two of the free tosses, Tim Russell was fouled and canned two charity throws, and Lehigh was looking at a 12-point lead.

A three-point play by Mike Butts at 4:50, and pull-up by Chris Seneca at 3:58, dragged the Bisons back to within five, but Russell and Vernon Doswell answered for Lehigh and the hosts were back on top 36-27.

Lehigh led at half, 41-33.

After a couple of swings at the start of the second stanza, with Bucknell again closing to five, free throws by Doswell and Russell boosted the margin to 9, and Russell rolled in a long pass at 14:35 to up the difference to 11.

After a Lehigh time out, Androlewicz launched a howitzer from the left side, and Russell pumped in a fade and went coast-to-coast via a steal, as the Brown and White eyed a 15-point lead.

The Engineers managed a 16-point advantage by the midway mark, and Bucknell never got closer than the 10-point final.

"We have to show people that we are the No. 1 team that we are," McCaffery noted referring to Lehigh's top standing (4-2) in the ECC.

"When we got up by 16 (at the halfway mark of the second stanza), we felt content to trade baskets with them. I called time out to give them a rest . . . I thought that we were playing that way because we were tired."

"We needed the defensive effort . . . and I am pleased with our execution. I'm not happy with the foul shooting but, for the most part, I am happy."

Queenan and Russell each finished with 21 points to pace Lehigh's outcome. Androlewicz tossed in 20 points as Russell grabbed a dozen boards.

Mark Atkinson contributed 20 for Bucknell (11-8, 3-3 ECC).

BROWN AND WHITE BRIEFS - Tickets are still on sale for Marquette's Feb. 12 appearance at Stabler Arena. Limited reserved tickets are $5 and are on sale at the Lehigh athletic office.

Lehigh next meets Hofstra (4-2 ECC and tied with the Engineers) at 3 p.m. Saturday in Stabler. The women will play a 1 p.m. game vs. the Flying Dutchmen. All children 17-years and under will be admitted free.